Reflecting on the Lumière Vert Panel – My Journey in Energy
Last Thursday, I had the privilege of joining the Lumière Vert panel in Melbourne, part of the Bastille Day celebrations, to share my (less conventional) journey into energy and climate tech.
As I joked during the event, I was a woman in banking and payments until I started looking for a convenient way to charge my EV – and somehow ended up launching a climate-tech startup to support the transition to sustainable transport!
It was such an inspiring evening, sharing the stage with incredible women shaping the future of energy – Fanny Mattens (Airbus), Suchi Misra (DCCEEW), Shannon Cohen (EDF), Kaveri Pathak (Grid Links), Karen Hapgood (Swinburne University) – and guided by our amazing moderator Vicky Au (Wood). We also had the privilege of hearing from keynote speakers Lily D’Ambrosio (Minister for Energy & Resources, VIC), Paule Igniatio (Consul General of France), Taneal Roach (ENGIE ANZ), and Pascale Quester (Vice Chancellor, Swinburne University).
Two things really stayed with me:
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” Representation is powerful – as Taneal reminded us, having women visible in leadership across energy and climate tech is not just about inspiring the next generation, but also about showing women in other industries that making the switch is possible.
Mentoring can take many forms. Sometimes it’s a structured program, sometimes it’s a conversation over coffee – but the key is to ask for advice. People are often more than willing to help if you come prepared and clear on what you want to learn.
Why Mentorship Matters at ivygo
At ivygo, mentorship isn’t just a buzzword – it’s part of who we are. Since day one, we’ve supported people transitioning into climate tech and helped many newcomers find their first paid job in Australia through our internship program.
Right now, as an early-stage startup, we are not in a position to pay our interns. But we make it up with very flexible work, a huge amount of hands-on learning, and opportunities to gain real experience on projects that directly shape our growth. For many, this has been a stepping stone into the industry – and we’re incredibly proud of that.
This approach has been a big part of our success. It’s why we can keep delivering value to our users – because we’re building a team that’s both capable and passionate. Mentorship flows both ways: I learn as much from our interns and volunteers as they do from us. It’s a reflection of what ivygo is all about – community helping community, whether that’s through EV chargers or professional growth.
I am grateful to the Bastille Day Festival Team in Melbourne, and FACCI for creating this platform, and to everyone who came to chat after the session – your stories and encouragement meant so much.
Events like this remind me why ivygo exists: to challenge the status quo, create fair access, and build a future where collaboration and inclusivity drive sustainable change.
Want to work with us?
We love connecting with people who are passionate about climate tech, sustainability, and creating solutions that are fair and community-focused. If you’re interested in getting involved through our internship program or exploring collaborations, we’d love to hear from you!
